Two ex Isiolo MPs are among suspects arrested in connection with vandalism at Isiolo Assembly as details emerge that hired goons were directed by a politician involved in the wrangles pitting two camps at the troubled county.
The two former MPs were arrested along with two of their accomplices at a hotel in Nanyuki town on Wednesday afternoon and later booked at a police station in Meru Central sub county for overnight, pending further probe by detectives from Isiolo.
New Isiolo County Commissioner David Kiprop who was accompanied by his police counterpart Paul Wambugu said the arrested include a key planner of the vandalism at the Assembly which occurred between 12:30 am and 1:30 am on Wednesday.
A source close to the investigation team revealed that one of them was also a key player at the Assembly wrangles pitting two rival camps, with its own chambers, clerks and assembly service boards.
While 10 MCAs allied to Speaker Mohamed Roba Qoto have their sittings at the headquarters in Isiolo town, the other comprising eight lawmakers led by Abdullahi Banticha and clerk Salad Guracha relocated to Oldonyiro trading centre three weeks ago.
Mr Qoto allied MCAs dismissed Mr Guracha three weeks ago after a special committee set up on July 29 found him to have allegedly abused office and committed fraud.
The camp had also recommended his prosecution by the DCI and the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission (EACC).
Last week, Qoto recommended to IEBC to declare seats of four of the elected MCAs in Oldonyiro to be declared vacant for allegedly missing the mandatory eight consecutive sittings of the Assembly.
Mr Guracha had since moved to Labour and Employment court to seek redress while Mr Banticha had also moved to Milimani High Court suing the Attorney General’s office and the Government Printer after his appointment as Speaker was revoked in a special gazette notice.
On Wednesday early morning there was vandalism at the assembly and later a broad daylight arson incident at the building housing the crucial Human Resources and county secretary offices, the hired goons directly went for sections holding important documents and equipment.
At the Assembly, the goons, either destroyed or carted away crucial documents and equipment at selected offices including Hansard, Sergeant at Arms and offices of the Speaker and his deputy, deputy Governor and those hosting majority and minority leaders.
Isiolo DCC Bernard Okwiri said; “the DCI has moved in and is investigating the vandalism. It is unfortunate that today’s incident occurred just after we had restored calm.”
Mr Okwiri said the administration was aware of the wrangles at the Assembly that followed after the failed impeachment of Governor Abdi Guyo.
The administrator noted that it was a challenging moment to see two speakers fighting to run parallel assemblies from two different locations.
At the building hosting the County secretary and the Human Resources Management, the Director of Human Resources, Jared Losano said the staff were forced to evacuate a few hours after reporting for duty after receiving threats.
“All essential documents were lost in the fire, except for the payroll, which had been securely backed up online,” said Mr Losano.
Among crucial documents lost in the human resources department are employment portfolio of staff that both the Senate and the Office of the Auditor General had flagged and was to be used as evidence in the failed impeachment process of the Governor.
County Secretary Dade Boru condemned the incident, terming it a ‘cowardly attempt to cripple county operations’.
Mr Dade said his staff had reported two previous attempts of attack, claiming that names of goons behind the incident were known.
At the same time, Mr Kiprop said action would be taken against individuals who carried out the vandalism at the Assembly and arson attack on the Executive section of the county government.
